Pride 2023: seeing yourself on the library shelves

The past year has been a big one for book challenges. Libraries all over Canada and the US have fielded complaints about books in their collections – important books, ones that resonate with readers, especially younger readers. According to a 2018 Statistics Canada report, 30% of the LGBTQ2+ population is between the ages of 15-24. It is vitally important that youth see themselves and their peers reflected in the media they consume, and to this end, the Lethbridge Public Library is committed to stocking our collections with titles that appeal to these readers. Not everything on our shelves will be for everyone; but we hope that there is something on our shelves for everyone.

As the Teenbrarian for LPL,

I am overjoyed to see greater diversity and representation in the young adult publishing world. Being able to add books from a variety of perspectives and lived experiences to the library’s teen collections makes me very happy. My two favourite of S.R. Ranganathan’s The Five Laws of Library Science are “Every person their book” and “Every book its reader.” This means that a library should strive to have something for every reader, while recognizing that not every book needs to be for every reader. If a book is not for you; that’s fine. That book likely has a readership elsewhere in our community, and somewhere else on the library shelves there will be the right book for you, too.

And so, to one of the best parts of being a professional librarian: book recommendations. Below are some of my favourite queer titles for younger readers, listed with their authors and where you’ll find them in the library. If you would like further titles for your To Be Read list, just ask the next time you visit your library branch. All book descriptions are from their publishers.

Gender Queer: A Memoir (Maia Kobabe, nonfiction comics)

Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Ophelia After All (Racquel Marie, YA fiction)

A teen girl navigates friendship drama, the end of high school, and discovering her queerness in this hilarious and heartfelt contemporary YA debut.

Different Kinds of Fruit (Kyle Lukoff, juvenile fiction)

When Annabelle learns that her father shares something big – and surprising – in common with her new nonbinary friend, she begins to see herself, and her family, in a whole new light.

Loveless (Alice Oseman, YA fiction)

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it’s okay if you don’t have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone… since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection.

I’ve Got You Babe (Paul Coccia, YA fiction)

This year’s fun fair will have a Pride Carnival theme and twelveyear-old Mac couldn’t be more excited. Mac convinces his best friend, Amy, to do a Sonny and Cher drag number.

All Boys Aren’t Blue: A MemoirManifesto (George M. Johnson, YA nonfiction)

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood and adolescence growing up as a gay black man.

Love Somebody (Rachel Roasek, YA fiction)

A sparkling YA debut rom-com about a popular high-school girl, her ex-boyfriend-turned-bestfriend, and the girl they both fall for.

This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us (anthology, juvenile fiction)

The first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories.

Paige McGeorge is Teenbrarian at the Lethbridge Public Library